Shaw
Urban Core Neighborhood in Washington, District of Columbia
District of Columbia 20001
Celebrating Black history, culture and the arts
Though Shaw represents less than three-quarters of square mile in DC, the neighborhood and its most notable residents were incredibly consequential regarding American black history, culture, and arts. Symbols memorializing their legacy and contributions are found throughout the community and help preserve and elevate its historic character. Outside the Howard Theatre, stands a stunning memorial to Shaw’s most famous native son, Duke Ellington. The adjacent Walk of Fame features bronze relief portraits of the most important Black musicians of the 20th Century who performed at the venue, embedded in the sidewalk, including Marvin Gaye, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mamie Smith. The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum at the corner of Vermont Avenue, 10th and U Streets, commemorates the contributions and sacrifices made by almost 210,000 Black soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War. The Mary Ann Shadd Cary House is the historic residence of its namesake, who was an abolitionist and one of the first black female journalists and lawyers in the United States. One of Shaw’s coolest and somewhat hidden secrets is the DC Alley Museum, which features a collection of murals painted by DC area artists on garage doors along Blagden Alley.Colorful rowhomes and newer condos and co-ops
For homebuyers considering Shaw, the real estate market is competitive with a good diversity of housing and growing home values. “The variety of styles makes this a great neighborhood for people of many different socio-economic levels to come together,” Diggs says. There aren’t grand mansions in Shaw, but there are rows of federal-style brick townhomes with colorful facades and linear accents. “Because there aren’t a lot of them, the market for these is incredibly competitive, with most buyers paying over asking price, particularly if the home includes parking,” Diggs says. The price range for townhomes is broad, from around $800,000 on the low end to upwards of $2 million. Over the last two decades, there has been a lot of redevelopment, with many mid-rises and rowhomes converted into high-end condos. “There are co-op communities throughout Shaw that provide the ability to live in the community for slightly under market value,” Diggs says. A one-bedroom, one-bath condo in need of updates can sell for as little as $250,000, while two-bedroom, three-bath modern unit in a newer building can list as high as $1.2 million.Walkable with robust public transportation
Situated about a mile north of the White House in downtown D.C., Shaw has a dedicated Metro stop on the Green and Yellow lines and it is a quick walk to the U Street and Mount Vernon Square stations. There are Metrobus routes along most of the major thoroughfares, including Rhode Island Avenue and 11th Street. “People who buy here want to enjoy more of their lives and spend less time traveling, so they appreciate the walkability and accessibility to public transportation,” Diggs says. For those who rely on their own vehicles, parking is an issue in the neighborhood, with buyers paying a premium for homes that include parking.Parks and gathering spaces
Shaw shows off its neighborly side with a jam-packed events calendar. There’s Art All Night Shaw, featuring music, art installations, and dance troupes, as well as Eat.Drink.Shaw., a celebration of hundreds of fantastic restaurants in the neighborhood. Events at the behemoth Walter E. Washington Convention Center, like the D.C. Auto Show and National Book Festival, draw crowds by the thousands. But if there’s one thing that’s long defined Shaw, it’s the music scene. Named the "Venue of the Decade," the 9:30 Club is an institution — and well worth the inevitable wait in line. The Atlantis, although newer to the party, is quickly becoming one of the neighborhood’s favorite venues.Not known for its abundance of green space, Shaw’s French Street Park is a bright pop of color in a concrete landscape. The dog park and adjoining skate park are popular gathering places in the neighborhood. People are also known to congregate near the Spirit of Freedom Statue at the African American Civil War Museum.
Schools performing above average
Families with children in Shaw are served by District of Columbia Public Schools, a solid urban district with a B grade from Niche but an A in diversity. Also graded B, Seaton Elementary is known for a particularly active parent-teacher organization that frequently hosts events. Kids may then advance to Cardozo Education Campus, which serves grades six through 12 and is graded B-minus by Niche. Parents who prefer out-of-boundary options or pre-kindergarten school can participate in the notoriously competitive D.C. school lottery. Although the neighborhood is near Howard University, a historically Black research university founded in 1867, it doesn't feel like a college town because students tend to stick closely to campus.‘Little Ethiopia’ headlines uniquely diverse dining
Shaw offers diverse dining options and is home to “Little Ethiopia” near the intersection of Ninth and U streets. The highly regarded and popular Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant is, however, a short walk from the heart of Little Ethiopia at the corner of U and 12th streets. Nathan Guggenheim, an agent with Washington Fine Properties, cites his favorite Shaw eatery, Nina May, as representative of an active dining scene offering “very high-end but accessible food.” Budget-conscious students and others looking for a quick and easy meal have options like McDonalds and Chipotle in the northeast of the neighborhood near Howard University’s campus. Diggs points to the opening of the Florida Avenue Whole Foods in 2020 at Florida as a key moment in Shaw’s evolution as a home and not just a destination, “It made it much more convenient for commuters.” She added, “If you don’t have a car, this is the area to live in. It’s very, very convenient to get downtown in and around town.”Higher crime than the national average
Compared to the national CAP Index score of 4 (out of 10), Shaw’s score of 6 indicates higher than-average incidences of crime. Robbery and larceny, in particular, happen at almost double the national rate.
Written By
Katelin Hill
Video By
Barry Ridgeway
Was this overview helpful?
Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Michael Rankin
Michael Rankin
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
(844) 734-0709
204 Total Sales
2 in Shaw
$2,000,000 Price Range
-
Steven Dean
Steven Dean
Responds QuicklyCompass
(844) 869-6948
64 Total Sales
1 in Shaw
$939,000 Price
-
HRLS Partners
HRLS Partners
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
(844) 537-5384
254 Total Sales
5 in Shaw
$780K - $1.6M Price Range
-
Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Compass
(844) 421-4871
110 Total Sales
3 in Shaw
$609K - $1.1M Price Range
-
Andrew Riguzzi
Andrew Riguzzi
Responds QuicklyCompass
(866) 970-6311
215 Total Sales
3 in Shaw
$605K - $1.1M Price Range
-
Sean Ruppert
Sean Ruppert
Logan Skye Realty
(202) 524-9672
17 Total Sales
3 in Shaw
$1.2M - $2.6M Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 6th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
- Pre-K to 8th
- Charter
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Shaw Dog Park
- Dog Park
French Street Park
- Picnic Area
- Walking Paths
Carter G. Woodson Memorial Park
- Walking Paths
Shaw Skate Park
- Skateboard
Bundy Dog Park
- Dog Park
- Soccer
- Multi-Purpose Field
Kennedy Recreation Center
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Grills
Transit
Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl
11 min drive
Subway
Shaw-Howard U
Bus
7th St NW & R St NW
Bus
R St NW & 7th St NW
Bus
7th St NW & Q St NW
Bus
7th St NW & O St NW
Bus
7th St NW & S St NW
Bus
P St NW & 5th St NW
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Shaw | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 4 |
| Burglary | 7 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 6 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Shaw Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Shaw, Washington sell after 32 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Shaw, Washington over the last 12 months is $967,500, up 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$967,500
Median Sale Price
$967,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,079,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$950,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$795,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
62
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
13%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$633
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,098
Number of Homes for Sale
42
Median Year Built
1900
Months of Supply
8.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,527
Significantly below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,679
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,184
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
601
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
1,306
Open Houses
-
Saturday, Jun 2111am - 1pm
-
Saturday, Jun 2112 - 2pm
-
Saturday, Jun 211 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Condo Buildings
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
8,048
Median Age
36
Population Density
42 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.9%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$116,408
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$148,895
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.2%
College Graduates
70.6%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
37.4%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
79.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
42''
Average Winter Low Temperature
31°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
13''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
99
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
97
/ 100
Excellent Transit
Transit Score®
86
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Pleasant Plains
Growing community with its own identity, hosting half of Howard University campus
Bloomingdale
A distinguished and delightful neighborhood in Washington's Ward 5
U Street
A vibrant, nightlife-heavy neighborhood filled with history
Logan Circle
One of the most desirable neighborhoods in the District
LeDroit Park
Rich history, stunning Victorians and walkable streets near the heart of D.C.
Chinatown
Energetic urban neighborhood with Chinese cultural influence
Reviews
Are you familiar with the Shaw neighborhood? to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Was this page helpful?
